Machine for renovating a track

ABSTRACT

A machine for renovating a track has a machine frame made of a main frame and an auxiliary frame connected by a hinge to the main frame at its front end. The main frame is connected at the end thereof to a multi-axis railway chassis, and to a tracked chassis in the area of a front end thereof. The auxiliary frame is supported by a railway chassis on the track at a front end at a distance from the hinge.

The invention relates to a machine for renovating a track, including adevice for continuously laying new sleepers and a machine framesupported at each end on an on-track undercarriage, wherein a verticallyadjustable crawler track is arranged at the front end—with regard to aworking direction of the machine—of the machine frame.

A machine of this type is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,431. Due to theuse of the crawler track, it is possible to run the machine on a ballastbed in order to lay new sleepers upon the same. Generally, between thetwo undercarriages in use which delimit a renewal gap, there must besufficient space available to be able to accomplish without problems thelaying of the sleepers as well as the insertion of pre-deposited rails.On the other hand, due to positioning several undercarriages at thefront end of the frame, a part of the length of the frame is lost forthe working devices. However, the overall length of the machine frame islimited to allow mobility also in smaller curve radii.

According to DE 2 928 152, it is also known to arrange at each end of amachine frame two on-track undercarriages and, between these in eachcase, a crawler track.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a machine of thespecified kind on which a renewal gap of sufficient length is stillavailable for working operations even when several undercarriages arearranged at the front end.

According to the invention, this object is achieved with a machine ofthe type mentioned at the beginning by way of the features cited in thecharacterizing part of claim 1.

Such a two-part design of the machine frame has the advantage that someof the undercarriages which are procedurally required at the front endcan be positioned in the region of the front auxiliary frame. Thus, itis possible to configure the renewal gap delimited by the undercarriagesof the main frame to be of maximum length. As a result of the jointedconnection of the two frame parts, the machine is mobile on the trackfor transfer travel unrestrictedly and without extensive retoolingoperations.

Additional advantages of the invention become apparent from thedependent claims and the drawing description.

The invention according to the invention will be described in moredetail below with reference to an embodiment represented in the drawingin which

FIG. 1 is a side view of a machine for renovating a track,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the front section of the machine.

A machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a machine frame 4 mobile on atrack 3 by means of on-track undercarriages 2. Arranged between theon-track undercarriages 2 is a device 5 for continuously laying newsleepers 6 upon a ballast bed 8 levelled by a plough 7. Verticallyadjustable guiding devices 9 are provided for lifting pre-depositedrails 10 and laying the same upon the sleepers 6. Coupled to the machine1 are further wagons 11 for transporting the sleepers 6 and foraccommodating a gantry crane 12.

As visible particularly also in FIG. 2, the machine frame 4 is composedof a main frame 13—supported at each end by a respective two-axleon-track undercarriage 2—and an auxiliary frame 16 fastened by means ofa joint 15 to the main frame 13 at the front end 14 thereof, with regardto a working direction 17.

Arranged at the front end 14 of the main frame 13 is a crawler track 20which is vertically adjustable by a drive 18 and equipped with a motivedrive 19. Immediately rearward thereof, the front two-axle undercarriage2 is connected to the main frame 13. A work cabin 21 is positioned abovethe same.

At a front end 22 spaced from the joint 15, the auxiliary frame 16 isconnected to a one-axle on-track undercarriage 23 and to a driver'scabin 24. The auxiliary frame 16 further comprises an auxiliary on-trackundercarriage 26, vertically adjustable by a drive 25 and positionedbetween the joint 15 and the front-most on-track undercarriage 23.

The universally movable joint 15 provided for connecting the main—andauxiliary frames 13, 16 can be blocked by means of a blocking device 27.The auxiliary frame 16 can be vertically adjusted relative to the mainframe 13 by means of a drive 28.

The mode of operation of the machine 1 will now be described in moredetail.

In a renewal gap, the old track has already been removed and the newrails 10 have been pre-deposited laterally on the exposed ballast bed 8.With the aid of the on-track undercarriages 2, 23, the machine 1 ismoved all the way to the end of the track 3 adjoining the renewal gap.For transfer into working operations, the auxiliary frame 16 is liftedby the drive 28 so that the on-track undercarriage 23 is raised from thetrack 3. At the same time, the blocking device 27 is also activated inorder to prevent an uncontrolled pivoting of the auxiliary frame 16.

Subsequently, the machine 1 is moved in the direction towards therenewal gap until the front on-track undercarriage 2 is situated just onthe track still, and the crawler track 20 is lowered onto the ballastbed 8. This causes the front on-track undercarriage 2 to lift off thetrack 3. Now, with activation of the motive drive 19, working operationsof the machine 1 begin, wherein the new rails 10 are lifted by means ofthe guiding devices 9 and laid upon the new sleepers 6 in front of therear on-track undercarriage 2 of the machine 1. Immediately beforehand,said new sleepers 6 are laid continuously with the aid of the device 5upon the ballast bed 8 levelled by the plough 7.

As soon as the front end of the renewal gap has been reached, theauxiliary frame 16 is centred above the adjoining track so that theon-track undercarriage 23 as well as the auxiliary on-trackundercarriage 26 can be supported on the rails of the track. Then thecrawler track 20 is raised and the machine 1 is moved further in theworking direction 17 until the front on-track undercarriage 2 of themain frame 13 is also resting on the track.

1-6. (canceled) 7: A machine for renovating a track, comprising: adevice for continuously laying sleepers; a machine frame including amain frame and an auxiliary frame fastened by way of a joint to aforward end of said main frame; said main frame having said forward end,with regard to a working direction of the machine, and a rearward endeach supported on a multi-axle on-track undercarriage; a verticallyadjustable crawler track vehicle disposed at said forward end of saidmain frame; and a forward on-track undercarriage connected to andsupporting said auxiliary frame at a front end thereof distal from saidjoint. 8: The machine according to claim 7, which further comprises anauxiliary on-track undercarriage connected to said auxiliary frame, anda drive for vertically adjusting said auxiliary on-track undercarriagerelative to said auxiliary frame. 9: The machine according to claim 8,wherein said auxiliary on-track undercarriage is positioned between saidjoint and said forward on-track undercarriage connected to saidauxiliary frame. 10: The machine according to claim 7, which comprises ablocking device configured for selectively blocking said jointconnecting said main frame and said auxiliary frame. 11; The machineaccording to claim 7, wherein said auxiliary frame is verticallyadjustable relative to said main frame by way of a drive. 12: Themachine according to claim 7, which comprises a work cabin disposed atsaid forward end of said main frame, and a driver's cabin disposed atsaid front end of said auxiliary frame.